Bill and his boys
It’s a sad commentary that we rarely pay tribute to someone except when he or she has passed away, and this is the situation for me with William Neale. I had tentatively scheduled an interview with him for the fall of this year (I usually plan my interview schedule 3 – 6 months in advance) and I was going to contact him about it in August. Unfortunately, that interview will now never take place because Bill passed away unexpectedly in March, so instead I’m writing what I hope is a fitting tribute to a man who many in the M/M community hold in high regard, especially his colleagues at MLR Press.
There is a note in his last book Hope from his partner of thirteen years Marty that showed what a wonderful person Bill was. Here’s an excerpt:
After thirteen years together and having seen William through the demands of corporate advertising and public relations, this was like candy to him. His eyes were bright and smile full again.
When William smiled you couldn’t help but smile along. With the memory of his bright smile, and with the help of Kris and Keith, I asked MLR to release his last book, Hope. I’m not ready to say goodbye. To all the friends and supporters of William Neale that feel the same, this will give us a little more time.To all the authors, fans and friends that supported William, he enjoyed you more than you could ever know, I am grateful.
Laura Baumbach, Publisher of MLR Press offered this comment about William:
William Neale was a unique man — successful, driven, savvy and shrewd. At the same time, he was kind, thoughtful and generous. These are not traits one often sees together in the same person. As I grew closer to Bill over time, I saw all these qualities shine in him. He approached his writing with the same drive for excellence that his marketing career had been blessed with, he examined and evaluated the romance community and market with the seasoned eye of a professional and he treated every worthy person he met at events and online with a consistent element of grace and insight.
I watched him spend hours with readers and fellow authors, making them each feel special while they were with him, basking in his focused attention and interest. He was a true people person, a gentleman and a gentle man. All our lives are lessened with his passing. I believe a part of Bill will always live in his writing because it reflects that same wonderful combination of personality traits– driven, savvy, kind and thoughtful characters and story lines. Like all skilled and successful authors, Bill gave a piece of himself in his books.
William’s Editor at MLR Press Kris Jacen said this about him in his last book Hope:
William Neale passed away unexpectedly just a day after he finished Hope. But he’s not completely gone for any of us. He left us a legacy of his words that we can read time and time again.
I felt honored that he trusted me with his words but more importantly he gifted me with his friendship. You’ll be missed my friend.
Bill’s last project was being part of the organizing team for the GayRomLit Retreat 2012 and sadly, he will never see the results of his hard work. Ethan Day had this to say about him in a post about the Retreat on this site:
Bill came on board with fresh eyes following New Orleans, and was full of great ideas and a real passion for all we’d initially wanted to accomplish with GayRomLit. I’m happy to say that was something that never changed.
Bill’s unexpected passing last month was a huge shock to all of us who both knew and/or worked with him. I believe I can safely say that all of us organizing this year’s GRL are deeply saddened that Bill won’t be there to enjoy the amazing retreat he helped plan. Our time is the one thing none of us has the ability to replicate, and we’re so thankful that Bill was able to devote some of his to GayRomLit. His generosity of spirit and uniquely suited background in marketing will be sorely missed as we move forward. His cheeky little grin, good humored disposition, and friendship will be sorely missed by me.
I hope everyone attending GayRomLit in October will think of him and send a little love and a thank you his way.
In my own small way I felt I knew a little bit about William from our various emails and on-line chats about his books as well as from his comments on my reviews of two of his books which I absolutely loved: Got Your Back which is mostly about a dog, and he confessed the story was therapy for him when he lost his own “Grady;” and Christmasing With You, a holiday story that made me shed countless tears. Most of Bill’s books are reviewed on the site and I will be reviewing his latest, Hope, in a few days.
In honour of William who was a kind and gentle man, a quality that came through in his stories, I have decided to post his photo on the site with two of his faithful companions, quite a departure for me since I have never done this before but he had given of that most valuable commodity, his time, to his community and I know he loved finding a second home with his new friends at MLR Press and in the larger GBLTQ community. William wrote with heart and I don’t think I can pay him a more sincere compliment. My biggest regret is that I won’t meet him at GRL 2012 if I do make it to Albuquerque.
RIP William Neale. You will be missed!
Thanks so much for this touching post. I was shocked to here about his death on Goodreads. In such a small genre it is hard to lose one of our own. I hope the publishing of his last book can aid his partner in gaining closure…
Hi Juliana
Thank you for stopping by. I was on vacation when he passed away but when I returned Geoff Knight told me about Bill’s death. Very sad – not only because he was so young, but also because he was such a kind and gentle man.
I was never lucky enough to meet Bill except over the web but he struck me as a true gentleman.
He was Charlie, and all of his colleagues and fans (from what I can gather) spoke highly of him. My own experience from our emails was always wonderful. He had a great sense of humour. 🙂
I’ve been having a lot of Bill moments lately as I write a NFL story which he had offered to help me with. I find myself looking at each chapter as I finish it, wondering if Bill would like it, if my football stuff is correct and how I’m going to get through the next chapter without his encouragement. But as the words string out across the pages and the word count pushes higher, I realize he’s still there helping me. Every time I wonder what he’d think…I know he’s there reading over my shoulder and smiling to see this story we spoke so much about finally take shape.
I guess after feeling him on my shoulder so much in the last couple of weeks, it’s only fitting that you should write such a touching tribute now. I miss his counsel and his friendship and the beautiful words he wrote. RIP, Bill.
Hi Lex
This has been the refrain from the authors I talked to about Bill, about how generous he was with his time. Your comments only help to reinforce that and I’m sure he would be pleased that you’re continuing on with your story even if he can only prod you from a distance. 🙂
Bill was one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I’ve ever been blessed to know. He made the world a brighter place, and he really did make everyone around him feel special. My heart goes out to Marty and the rest of Bill’s family 🙁
Thanks for writing this tribue, Wave. Bill was a talented author and a wonderful human being and he deserves this. **hug**
We should all be so lucky to be remembered this way. Thanks for sharing your memories of Bill Ally.
Lovely tribute, Wave. Thanks to you and everyone for sharing about Bill’s life. I’m sad to say I never had the privilege of meeting him. From everyone’s remembrances and what I knew of him online, it sounds like that would have truly been a privilege. Looking forward to reading Hope.
Thanks Sloan
The tribute was most deserved and we all missed out on the privilege of knowing Bill. A great loss.
Wave, I sit here with tears in my eyes and yet I admit I never had the opportunity to meet Mr Neale. It is, however, true that the real measure of a person is not found in what they accomplished in this life but in what they left behind–the lives they touched–the loving memories they leave to those they cherished and who, in turn, cherished them. To leave a person with the memory of a smile, a gentle touch, a caring hand, I think that says so much about a person. I think that speaks about the greatness of this man. I am thankful that we will have that piece of him that he put into each of his stories–he was generous to share that with us, wasn’t he? But then that seems to be what he will be remembered for best–his generosity! Thank you Wave for sharing this with those he left behind…it was so kind of you!
Hi Sammy
It was very difficult for me to write this post even though I had never met Bill personally. I really admired his work ethic and the way he treated everyone as a friend. His colleagues and fans (of which I’m definitely one) will miss him.
Although I knew Bill for such a short space of time – in New Orleans and our scouting trip to Albuquerque – he and I bonded over quite a few glasses of Dewars. I told him my favorite of all his stories was ‘Got Your Back’ a short story where Grady, a little terrier, tries to steer his owner into making the right choices in his quest to find the ‘man of his dreams’.
Total fun.
Bill had a warm, robust style of writing that I think came from the heart of the man himself, and his last book ‘Hope’ is a fitting tribute to a man whose caring nature is reflected in the characters he wrote about and so obviously loved.
Bill will be missed by all who knew and loved him, even if only through his writing. For those of us who were personally privy to his warmth and wicked sense of humor, the hurt goes deep.
Miss you Bill –
“We hardly knew ye…”
Hi Jim
Thank you for stopping by.
It’s funny you mentioned Got your Back which I reviewed. Bill told me that it was theraphy for losing his own dog and he never meant to publish the story. I absolutely loved Grady.
You and those who met Bill personally are to be envied because by all accounts he was a wonderful man who will be deeply missed by his colleagues and fans.
Jesus.. I’m crying.
I really enjoyed reading his books. I’m looking forward to one more book…
Bogusia
I didn’t mean to make you cry but I had to pay tribute to a man and an author who impacted so many people, both fans and his colleagues. As a reviewer I loved his books and I’m looking forward to reading and reviewing Hope.
I am crying too, thanks for such moving post Wave, may he rest in peace. I did love “Got your back” very much.
Hi Sirius
He was a very nice man. What more can I say? I enjoyed his humour and the few times we emailed each other I realized what a gem he was.
I rarely speak publicly on blogs, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to comment on this post.
I would like to thank you for such a kind and loving tribute to my dear friend.
For me, Bill’s sudden and unexpected death has been a major wake-up call. It has forced me to reevaluate my life and the important people in it. I realized the hours I used to spend online reading about one scandal or the other could be better spent with the positive people in my life. I’m actually so much happier now that I’ve refocused my attentions. Unfortunately, it took Bill’s passing to bring about the changes in me. Even though I’m a tad ashamed to admit that, I know if Bill were still with us, he’d give me that crooked smile I loved so much and tell me I was doing the right thing.
Hi Carol
Thank you for stoppinjg by and giving such a heartfelt tribute. You were fortunate knowing Bill personally – I only knew him as someone who corresponded with me by email or through comments on blog posts, but I was always impressed by his heart.
Like you, Bill’s passing made me rethink a few things in my life. I remember well that we’re not promised tomorrow and Bill’s sudden passing brought that into focus.
I’m sure he’s around somewhere, on your shoulder perhaps as Lex Valentine said, urging you on to achieve whtever you set out to do.
You described him as a “kind and gentle man”. I knew that. Not because I had met him or corresponded with him (other than a fan email I sent to him.) I knew it because it came across in his stories more than any other author I can think of. That’s why his stores are such a comfort read for me. I am anxously waiting for Hope. Although Hope will be the last new story by William Neale, I take comfort in knowing I can read and re-read his stories whenever I need some comfort.
Yes, he will be missed by this fan.
Hi Linda
Like you, I take comfort from William’s books which are my “go to” comfort reads. His new works will definitely be missed but at least we can re-visit his characters time and time again.
Thank you for stopping by.
Hi, I met Bill in New Orleans the first night we were there. He took the time to speak to both myself and my husband, Randy, mainly to put Randy at ease when there was a guy dancing naked over his head on the bar. He stood there and talked to us both for a long time. And after it was over and we all went back home, we kept in contact through FB. He passed on a Wednesday, the same day I recieved copies of each of his books that he autograped and mailed to me for a cancer auction. I didn’t find out until Thursday morning that he had passed and I was useless the whole day, because I just sat and cried. He was such a special man, even going so far as to pay for a registration for a young gay man who moved into our home a few months ago. I didn’t ask him to, I was just telling him about Devon and he encouraged me to bring him with us and if we could not pay for it, which I couldn’t since I am already paying for three of them, that he would take care of it and he did. I will be eteranlly grateful to this man, who was taken way too early from us. I only met him that one time, but you’ve heard the expression, to know him is to love him, well, that was William Neale. RIP my friend.
Mary
What a wonderful story. It’s stories like yours that reveal the true William Neale. He was a kind man and I’ve heard similar stories about his generosity of spirit as well as his actual generosity where he donated his own money to a good cause.
Thank you for telling us about how Bill impacted your life and I’m sure that Marty will appreciate these stories that demonstrate to others what he has known all along — what a great person Bill was.
No doubt … he’ll be missed.
Well said William.
Just a deep loss for the genre. Heartfelt condolences for everyone who knew him and a great sorrow for those who never met him.
As you said Rhys — indeed a great loss to the M/M and GBLTQ community.
This is so moving, Wave. Thank you for this. xx
Geoff
Thank you for telling me about Bill’s passing when I returned from vacation. He is someone who will be deeply missed by his fans (of which I’m definitely one) and his colleagues.
All I can say is that I’m very glad I had the chance to meet and get to know Bill.
You are one of the lucky ones TD. He was by all accounts a wonderful man.
I hate hearing this kind of stuff. I just HATE it. He was too young. I wish I could’ve met him.
Wonderful tribute, Wave. I just hope Bill’s beloved “boys” (Marty and the dogs) are doing okay and he’s somehow, some way able to be with them.
I can SO relate to what you’re saying KZ. If it’s tough for us who have never met Bill in person, think how terrible it is for his family and friends. The best part is that we will always have his books which are part of him.
Writing this tribute was tough because I felt that we had become on-line friends, as I’m sure most of his other fans did. I’m sure that this is an extremely difficult time for Marty and their boys, but that old cliche “time heals all wounds” is true.
Thanks for stopping by KZ.
I never got to meet Bill–either in person or online. I only first heard of him through the news of his passing.
Ever since then, however, I’ve been learning about him through tributes such as this–‘meeting’ him through the eyes of others and feeling the loss to the community as a result.
I hope someday I can leave behind me a legacy of love and support as strong as the one Bill has generated among his friends and family. My thoughts go out to Marty and the boys–and to everyone who was touched by Bill’s thoughtfulness and kindness.
Hi Sarah
Thanks for commenting. I think that Bill’s loss is felt so keenly because he was so loved by his fans and colleagues. From all accounts he was was the kind of person we all aspire to be.
I wish that someday Marty will be able to read the comments from Bill’s fans on the different posts about him, so that he can draw some comfort from the fact that we all appreciated and loved him.
What a beautiful tribute for a beautiful man. The world is a little dimmer with his passing.
RIP Bill. Love & hugs to Marty.
Hi Sharon
We’re all hoping that Marty and Bill’s other boys are doing okay. He was indeed a beautiful man from all the comments left by his friends and colleagues, as well as fans.
When I first heard the news I was convinced that it could not be true. I was sure that it was a hoax or just some dumb internet story. I feel so sad when I finally realized that the news was true. He was much too young to leave this world. My condolences to all who knew him.
Hello Arlene
This news has been very hard on Bill’s friends, colleagues and fans because he was so young to be taken from us. He will definitely be missed.
My last communication with Bill was his encouraging me to attend the GayRomLit event in Albuquerque so that we could finally meet in person. We had been emailing from time to time ever since I reviewed his first book on Amazon. He was so gracious. I still can’t believe he is gone. He always made you feel as though you were the most important person – that’s a gift. I know I will miss him – I already do.
It’s a very lovely tribute, Wave. All the comments speak to just how very special a person Bill was and I’m so sorry for Marty’s great loss.
It’s such a shame that as the old saying goes “only the good die young”. Bill’s best quality was kindness; he had an innate ability to bond with people and make them friends even though he never met them, and that’s how I felt about him. We only corresponded and I never met him but like you, I felt his warmth and he made me feel that I was important to him.
We all miss him but Marty and his other “boys” will feel his loss keenly for the rest of their lives.
Thank you for putting this up, Wave. I hope (no pun intended) that all enjoy one final new glimpse into the world that Bill created. That anytime someone wants a hug from Bill they can just visit with him in one of his books.
Bill’s boys (Marty and the dogs) are doing okay. I was privileged to call Bill a good friend and I’ve become a good friend with Marty in the past month. He has stopped by and read the comments, as have some of Bill’s RL friends, and has been touched by the comments.
Hi Kris
Thanks for stopping by – I know what a busy schedule you have. It was my pleasure to do this for Bill who was always kind to me when we talked about books, not just his books.
I hope that Marty and Bill’s RL friends found some measure of comfort in knowing that he was so loved and admired by his other friends and his writing community, as well as his fans. I know it’s tough for Marty at this time but at least he knows that the man he loved for 13 years was loved by others.
As for Hope, I will be reviewing this book next week.
Thanks again Kris and my deep condolences to Marty and the rest of Bill’s boys, as well as everyone at MLR Press. Give Laura a hug from me – this must be a very difficult time for her.
My first book released from MLR the same day as Bill’s book “A New Normal.” He was very kind with his emails of encouragement to a novice author just starting out. I’m sorry I’ll now never meet him in person. Even from a few emails, his kindness, and his enthusiasm for writing and the community of writers was clear. He will be missed. My deepest sympathy to Marty and all of Bill’s close friends.
Hello Kaje
Bill had a reputation for supporting novice writers and helping his peers, and your story proves this once again. He will be missed by everyone who knew him because of his wonderful personal qualities and I hope that Marty draws comfort from comments like yours.
A piece of my heart broke reading this tribute and all these comments. I can’t find any words to express how terribly sad I feel finding out Mr. Neale is dead. None.
Hi Ebi
It’s been a long time.
Sorry I didnt see your comment until a few mintues ago. We’re all still recovering from the shock of Bill’s passing but he left us with some wonderful memories. 🙂